Nelson Yeap, the country president of Schneider Electric (Thailand), said support from the Energy Ministry would also help.

"Energy efficiency has huge potential in Thailand, as the country's expenditures on energy have grown by 10% a year," he said.

Over the next two decades, the national energy efficiency plan is projected to generate savings of 270 billion baht a year including 130 billion in electricity savings, said Mr Yeap.

Under the country's current energy efficiency plan, energy consumption is projected at 121,000 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe) in 2030, up from 71,000 ktoe in 2010.

Without the plan, consumption is projected at 151,000 ktoe in 2030.

The plan aims at cutting energy intensity by 25% from 15.3 ktoe last year to save 1 billion baht in gross domestic product.

The projected intensity of 12.1 ktoe in 2030 is based on average annual economic growth of 4.2%.

At present, each household consumes an average of 4,000 kilowatt-hours of energy a year, allowing a maximum annual savings of 5,120 baht a year.

Commercial buildings consume 414,000 kWh a year, affording potential annual savings of 40,000 baht, while industrial plants could save 4-8 million baht a year as they consume 13 million baht worth of energy on average.

"It will be a challenge for Thailand to achieve these potential savings, but our company can support these programmes," said Mr Yeap, adding that up to 30% of energy savings could be achieved through Schneider's energy efficiency solutions.

One Schneider customer in Thailand, a food factory in Samut Sakhon province, found it could save 700,000 baht per year through greater energy efficiency.

The company started with an energy consumption audit of the factory's air conditioning system, then fixed the leaks and spent 21.5 million baht for a high-efficiency machine to cut energy consumption.

The investment is supposed to break even in less than three years.

Mr Yeap said Schneider also has options that fit the Smart City plan of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority.

A "smart grid" is required as well as a system to control power and water consumption in the transport sector, he said.